Prosecutors in Maguindanao massacre case accused of bribery mull suit

Maguindanao massacre. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—State prosecutors accused of taking bribes in the Maguindanao massacre case intend to take legal action against those behind the “absurd” and “unbelievable” charges.

Senior deputy state prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon, who formerly headed the prosecution panel of the Maguindanao massacre case, said he and Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, the supervising official of the panel, met late Friday to discuss what action to take over the allegations.

“We’re contemplating (legal action). You will know at the right time,” Fadullon said in an interview.

According to an ABS-CBN television report, Fadullon’s name is on the supposed bribe list that an unnamed source revealed in the report earlier this week, while government witness Lakmodin Saliao accused Baraan of taking P20 million.

Private prosecutor Nena Santos separately claimed that the Ampatuans, the principal suspects in the massacre, had attempted to bribe prosecutors to the tune of about P300 million.

2Fadullon, who left the prosecution panel on March 9, 2011, said it was illogical for him to have received any bribe as the pay-offs were supposedly made months after he resigned from the case.

“…[A]llegedly, I was given P5 million in May 2011 and P2 million in Jan. 2012. My question is, the only reason I will be given money is for me to get out of the case. But I was out of the case as early as March 2011. Why will you have to bribe me, why will you have to pay me when I’m already out of the case? Why would you still spend money on me when I’m already out? he said.

Fadullon has challenged the source of the supposed list of bribe takers to “come out in the open and not hide behind the camera”.

He said it was unfair that he and other prosecutors were “being made to defend themselves”.

“If they’re saying it is the right of the public to know, why hide it? Why be selective? Are you trying to hide something? To protect someone?” Fadullon said.

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